Healthcare and Insurance

Increased in-network access delivered to KC metro hospitals

Regional Humana members receiving care in the Kansas City metro now have added or improved in-network access, thanks to closed agreements between Prime Healthcare and Humana. The announced agreements, now in effect, provide in-network access for most area Humana Medicare Advantage… more

Kansas City, Mo. sees rise in COVID-19 patients in ICU

A decrease in the number of open ICU beds at hospitals in Kansas City, Mo. and throughout the region has confirmed a broader trend showing that the number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise. New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations… more

Eli Lilly receives emergency approval for antibody treatment

The first emergency use authorization (EUA) for a COVID-19 treatment has been given to Eli Lilly by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Permission for emergency use was granted Monday for Lilly's COVID-19 antibody treatment called bamlanivimab. Authorization for… more

Johnson County health department sees rising case numbers, pushes for schools to return to ‘red zone’

With the rising number of coronavirus cases in our area we wanted to know if students are heading back to remote learning. The Johnson County COVID-19 dashboard indicates the number of new cases and percent of positive tests would lead… more

Southern Missouri diagnostic lab ceases operations

A Southern Missouri diagnostic lab has ceased operations after having its lab certifications pulled by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Prior to closing, Gamma Healthcare Inc. in Poplar Bluff, Mo. provided laboratory and radiology services for hundreds… more

Two Kansas City metro hospitals face maximum Medicare payment cut

Most hospitals evaluated for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program will face a Medicare payment cut in fiscal year 2021. Cuts range from 0.01 percent to 3 percent, the maximum payment slash to affect two hospitals in the metro in both… more

GuideWell signs agreement with Leawood health organization, to acquire all interests from Blue KC

GuideWell, the parent company of Florida Blue, signed an agreement Nov. 2 to become a majority shareholder in New Directions Behavioral Health, a managed mental health organization based in Leawood, Kan. Under the transaction, GuideWell will acquire all interests from Blue Cross… more

Coping with COVID: Washington University seeking recruits as it begins phase 3 of vaccine trial

Used as a testing site for a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is seeking recruitments for phase 3 of the trial vaccine. The School… more

Gating criteria changes for Johnson County schools

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has changed its gating criteria recommendation for schools from “Orange” to “Red.” The change came Tuesday after the county reported 2,260 new cases in the last 14 days and 15,430 cases overall… more

Former Cushing Hospital in Leavenworth donated to county by health system

The building that housed Saint Luke’s Cushing Hospital is no longer receiving patients, though its recent donation by Saint Luke’s Health System will help keep it running. On Wednesday, October 28, the Leavenworth County Board of County Commissioners formally accepted… more